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Your organizational development department is charged with finding ways to improve your company. Developing a manager of organizational development must be a thorough and well-planned process. Educational courses and workplace experiences should be designed to produce a well-rounded and knowledgeable person, capable of making sound decisions that benefit your company. A mixture of college-level courses and experience at different levels of your organization will lead to an employee who understands what needs to be accomplished and the training and development to make a difference.

Educational Background

Most managers of organizational development hold undergraduate college degrees. They frequently study education, psychology, sociology and business administration. Advanced degrees are also common, and courses on managing change, strategy, planning and organizational structure are helpful. Many managers of organizational development also hold masters of business administration (MBA) degrees and have experience in the corporate world, as well as academic backgrounds. Courses and programs on organizational development are available from vendors and consultants and are offered in both online and classroom formats.

Corporate Experience

A solid corporate background is vital for developing an organizational development manager. Experience in many departments helps to round out your manager. Time in operations, human resources, marketing and accounting will help her to progress in her career. Rotate her through these departments with a solid developmental plan in place. Seek reports during her assignments and check frequently with her managers for updates and further opportunities for development. Varied experiences in many departments will serve her well in her future position.

Special Projects

A special project can be a valuable learning tool. Such a project should be designed to fill an actual company need. Researching and designing a customer service improvement program could be a valuable learning experience. Implementing a quality improvement program or analyzing workplace practices are also opportunities for growth. Determine projects that are high-priority issues for your organization and establish solid parameters for completion.

Shadowing

Shadowing selected managers and employees is a good way to develop a manager of organizational development. Create a plan to interact with key employees and have your manager work with these people. Your organizational development manager should create a report after each assignment and develop an action plan for using what she learned. Your goal during this assignment should be to establish insights and knowledge that can only be gathered by spending quality time with these key individuals.

About the Author

Based in Bethlehem, Pa., Kermit Burley has been writing articles for over 30 years. His articles have appeared in "Training" magazine, as well as numerous company publications throughout the course of his career. Burley holds a Masters of Education in instructional design from Penn State and is certified as a trainer and instructional designer.